What is meant by 'effectual fervent prayer' of a righteous man availeth much?

Answer 1

James 5:16 Contains an inspirational passage concerning prayer, "...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

To understand the significance of this verse, let's consider the context as it expands on prayer.

James 5:15-18 "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed... Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

The word "effectual" in James 5:16 is translated as "worketh" in Corinthians. It means to be energized. "Availeth" is from the Greek word ischuo and is the same as "prevailed" in Acts 19:20. It means proving superior in power and influence.

James 5:16 "...The effectual [energized] fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth [prevails] much."

In today's vernacular, it might be stated, "The energized and heartfelt prayers of a righteous man are superior in power and profound in effect."

Answer 2

Your asking about James' verse here:

James 5:16King James Version (KJV)

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Consider also, if you will, John's verse here:

1 John 5:14New King James Version (NKJV) Confidence and Compassion in Prayer14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

The word effectual means "sufficient to produce a desired result." Fervent means "constant, strenuous, and intense."

Both James and John are telling readers that for our prayers to be effective, they must be fervent and meaningful but most importantly in agreement with the will of God - don't ask for someone to die as an example of it not being God's will.

To answer this question we must first determine what is the meaning of "Effectual Fervent Prayer". The net's meaning of "effectual" is effective, and "fervent" means "intense". So, the prayer meant to be "effective and intense"this I believe it is not a conventional prayer, but rather a special prayer. Then the question is why would a special prayer be necessary?. The fact of the matter is that we wrestle against principalities and powers who are the adversaries who are always trying to disrupt God's plans. As it is written "...preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my going.(Psalms 140v4) So the "Righteous man", is "This man was instructed in the way of the Lord and being "fervent" in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently in the things of the Lord.(Acts 18v25)